Dialogue

Letters to the Observer

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STOP THE TRAGEDY

“They Die in Brooks County” (June 1) is a powerful piece of writing. Mary Jo McConahay puts the whole problem in perspective.

This has removed all doubts for me that we must solve the illegal immigration problem, and very soon. Frankly, any person that would favor or encourage illegal immigration after reading this and seeing the pictures should be more than ashamed.

After reading the article, I contacted my senators and representative and informed them that they should vote against the immigration bill before the Senate. I suggested they read it themselves to see that they would be voting for more of the same if this bill passed.

I asked them to push for a bill that would go after employers that exploit these poor folks as that’s the only realistic way to stop this tragedy. Every progressive and liberal out there should read this article and see how mistaken we’ve been.

Joe Mahoney Via e-mail

BOXING WITH GOD

There are only two possibilities. Either we were created, or we are the product of happenstance. (“Ducking the God Question,” June 1)

All of the explanations of “where did we come from” can be reduced to these two propositions. No one can irrefutably conclude there is no God.

Therefore, how can it be intellectually honest to approach all reason from a materialistic viewpoint? Only 50 percent of the probability is being considered.

Seems pretty short-sighted to me.

John Leslie Via e-mail

A WIMP BY ANY OTHER NAME

I so appreciate the depth and space given the topic of Texas nurses. (“An Ounce of Dissension,” May 18) After the not short conversation I had with Kathleen Sharp, I was a bit distressed to see the brief quote be that of me characterizing nurses as wimpy — but I did say it, and it is true. How else can we explain that despite the growing severity of the nursing shortage, nurses still cannot negotiate wages, have no true whistle-blower protection, and little control over nurse-to-patient ratios? When the problem is described by the Texas Hospital Association as one primarily of nurse ignorance and we do not rise up in numbers to refute that incredible arrogance, what other words besides wimpy would apply?

One thing the article did not address was the role of the Texas Nurses Association (TNA). Along with the THA, TNA worked to defeat HB1707. The TNA claims to represent nurses but I can tell you as a nurse with many years of hospital experience, they absolutely do not represent the interests of bedside nurses.

Julie A. Byers, RN Via e-mail

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